Covid and Long Covid re-visited
I had a difficult month or so earlier this year with a severe bout of Flu/Covid, followed by a long recovery, and I thought I would share my experience with you in case you were also having difficulties shaking those pesky respiratory diseases that have been going round.
While we all want to put 2020 and 2021 behind us, with all the fear and isolation imposed by a new coronavirus and new lockdowns and new medical interventions, it is also good to look back, reflect and learn from the recent past!
My holiday ends in disaster…
While I was on holiday in South Africa, I began to feel extremely lethargic, achy all over and feverish. I also suffered from migraines which I thought would pass if I rested. However the strain of a long-haul flight when feeling so unwell meant this only got worse and when I returned home I had a full-blown bout of the Flu. In fact, the exhaustion and cough felt similar to when I had Covid a year ago. To top it all, it seemed to take forever to recover!
I thought I would re-visit some of the recommendations and advice regarding Covid and Long Covid as there have been a lot of new research in the past couple of years. We are all aware of pharmacological interventions such as the mRNA vaccines, but what else can we do to help support immunity and reduce unpleasant symptoms if we have severe respiratory infections that might be Covid?
A recent paper in Frontiers in Immunology explored selected ‘nutraceuticals’ that are helpful in preventing covid-related complications and supporting immunity, including nutritional elements like vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.[i]
While recovering from my own bout of Covid or Long Covid, I initially took a very high dose of Vitamin C and 25mg Zinc Picolinate twice a day. I doubled my Vitamin D intake to 10,000iu daily and I took multi-immune support containing Echinachea. Although Quercetin (in supplement form) is highly recommended for Covid and Long-Covid, I did not take it as I have the ‘COMT’ gene and quercetin slows down my ability to eliminate oestrogen safely. The anti-viral I decided to take was Humic Acid. I also for the first time included Nattokinase and Bromelain in my treatment protocol. I decided to try this protocol before using mushroom extracts, which are excellent in supporting immunity but also quite expensive.
I will explore some of them in this blog, but first and foremost the most important thing is rest!
Rest!
Having an illness that forces us to stop all our daily habits and wreaks havoc on our diaries can be very stressful and stress is a massive cause of inflammation. We often overlook the impact stress has on our bodies and forget that the most important things we can do is take the pressure off ourselves and make sure to rest properly. This is also important in the long recovery after we start to feel better! Make sure to prioritise rest and wellbeing in the recovery stage as well.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a well-known impact on immunity and can enhance innate cellular immunity. Many studies showed that COVID-19 patients had lower levels of vitamin D and mean plasma concentrations that were half that of control groups.[ix] Adequate levels of Vitamin D correlate with a reduced likelihood of severe infection and Vitamin D may have an important role in boosting immunity against Covid as well as reducing symptoms of infection.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports respiratory defence mechanisms by preventing as well as reducing the duration and severity of viral infections. Vitamin C also has anti-histamine properties that can reduce inflammation and flu-like symptoms.
Zinc
Zinc has anti-viral properties and can reduce symptoms associated with lower respiratory tract infections. Zinc is able to inhibit viral binding and replication which can also be very helpful in treating Covid and other viral infections.
Natto
Natto is a popular traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented by Bacillus subtilis. Natto is a fermented food which requires a very discerning palate! Fortunately, it is available in supplement form, which has a proven safety profile and is relatively inexpensive.
Nattokinase, a serine protease, is one of the most important extracellular enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis. Nattokinase, as a natural product, is considered by many to have the potential to be developed as ‘a new-generation drug for the prevention, treatment, and long-term care of cardiovascular disease and, perhaps, COVID-19’.[vi]
In a study published in the journal Molecules, nattokinase was shown to degrade the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. This indicated that nattokinase and natto extracts have potential effects on the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry via spike protein degradation.[vii]
Echinacea
I have used Echinacea as a treatment for colds and flus for a long time. Many human trials and meta-analyses have shown Echinacea to have an important role in immunity and protection from upper respiratory tract infections, so it makes sense to also consider it for the prevention and treatment of Covid.
Herbal derivatives such as extracts from Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea have been investigated over many years. The immunological properties include an interferon-mediated, T-cell response against viruses both in animals and in humans, with its mechanism of action also consisting of non-concomitant production of a proinflammatory cytokine cascade supported by IL-6 and/or TNF-α release.[viii]
A word of caution, Echinachea may cause a flare-up in autoimmunity, particularly with Lupus.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a common flavonoid found in many foods, berries, and herbs and it is well-known as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-histamine, and analgesic compound. Since Covid causes severe inflammation – and this is one of the main life-threatening conditions in patients with Covid-19 – it makes sense to use Quercetin to reduce inflammation.[ii] A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, showed patients in the quercetin group having a quicker recovery from Covid-19 after one week of treatment, compared to the control group.[iii]
Medicinal Mushrooms
Mushrooms, in the form of tablets and powders, are the subject of ongoing research because of their ability to enhance T-cell immunity against virally infected cells.[x] The effects of selected mushroom derivatives on the immune system are ‘likely due to the presence of β-glucans, which are thought to be capable of affecting innate and adaptive immune responses’.[xi]
A new trial based on mushrooms such as Turkey Tail was reported in Journal of American Medical Association based on the plausibility that mushrooms may have immune-modulating properties against SARS-CoV-2. According to the principle investigator:
The interactions of fungi as part of the gut microbiome include binding to receptors on immune cells…There are receptors on T cells, for example, that bind mushroom polysaccharides. This is one mechanism by which mushrooms can modulate the behaviour of our immune cells, which may have a potential effect against SARS-CoV-2.[xii]
Humic Acid
Humic acid has many anti-viral properties. In particular, it stops viruses from attaching to the cell and thereby stops them from penetrating the cell membrane. It can also stop viruses from reproducing and entering the bloodstream. Regular doses of humic and fulvic acid can help alleviate symptoms of both the common cold and bronchitis.
Humic acid contains a wide variety of minerals, including trace minerals that are essential for every aspect of our health. Taking humic acid is a great way to address mineral deficiency that affects overall health. It can also provide an electrolyte boost and help with hyperthyroidism!
I hope this blog is helpful for you or anyone you know who has had a similar bout of Covid or Long Covid and you might also like to read my previous blog on Long Covid which you can find here!
With every blessing,
Emma
Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist
Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner, ILM Accredited Wellbeing Coach
Certified Live and Dried Blood Analysis, Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach
[i] Derosa G, Maffioli P, D’Angelo A, Di Pierro F. Nutraceutical Approach to Preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Related Complications. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021 Jun 28;12:582556
[ii] Saeedi-Boroujeni, A., Mahmoudian-Sani, MR. Anti-inflammatory potential of Quercetin in COVID-19 treatment. J Inflamm 18, 3 (2021). https://journal-inflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12950-021-00268-6
[iii] Di Pierro, Francesco and Khan, Amjad , et al, Quercetin as a possible complementary agent for early-stage COVID-19: Concluding results of a randomized clinical trial, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 2023 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1096853/full
[iv] Wu Y, Li JQ, Kim YJ, Wu J, Wang Q, Hao Y. In Vivo and In Vitro Antiviral Effects of Berberine on Influenza Virus. Chin J Integr Med (2011) 17:444–52.
[v] Patil T, Patil S, Patil S, Patil A. Antimicrobial Profile of Antidiabetic Drug: Berberine. IJPPR (2015) 7(1):45–50. 10.1186/s12906-019-2558-9
[vi] Derosa G, Maffioli P, D’Angelo A, Di Pierro F. Nutraceutical Approach to Preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Related Complications. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021 Jun 28;12:582556
[vii] Tanikawa T, Kiba Y, Yu J, Hsu K, Chen S, Ishii A, Yokogawa T, Suzuki R, Inoue Y, Kitamura M. Degradative Effect of Nattokinase on Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2. Molecules. 2022 Aug 24;27(17):5405. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9458005/
[viii] Di Pierro F, Rapacioli G, Ferrara T, Togni S. Use of a Standardized Extract From Echinacea Angustifolia (Polinacea) for the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections. Altern Med Rev (2012) 17(1):36–41
[ix] D’Avolio A, Avataneo V, Manca A, Cusato J, De Nicolò A, Lucchini R, et al.. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations Are Lower in Patients With Positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Nutrients (2020) 12(5):1359. 10.3390/nu12051359
[x] Sen, D., Debnath, B., Debnath, P. et al. Identification of potential edible mushroom as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor using rational drug designing approach. Sci Rep 12, 1503 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05349-x
[xi] Meng X, Liang H, Luo L. Antitumor Polysaccharides From Mushrooms: A Review on the Structural Characteristics, Antitumor Mechanisms and Immunomodulating Activities. Carbohydr Res (2016) 424:30–41.
[xii] Slomski A. Trials Test Mushrooms and Herbs as Anti–COVID-19 Agents. JAMA. 2021;326(20):1997–1999. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19388 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786023
[xiii] Trougakos IP, Terpos E, Alexopoulos H, Politou M, Paraskevis D, Scorilas A, Kastritis E, Andreakos E, Dimopoulos MA. Adverse effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: the spike hypothesis. Trends Mol Med. 2022 Jul;28(7):542-554.
[xiv] Slomski A. Trials Test Mushrooms and Herbs as Anti–COVID-19 Agents. JAMA. 2021;326(20):1997–1999. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19388 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786023
